The Secret Ingredient to Better Tuna Salad

As far as quick, muscle-building meals go, it’s tough to best tuna fish salad. Six ounces of canned tuna, packed in water, contain 40 grams of protein for about 220 calories. Add a large hardboiled egg and you’ve contributed 6 more grams of protein for 78 calories. A little mayo will up the creaminess, but still keep you under a 500-calorie meal—all while providing a powerhouse of workout recovery fuel.

The strong taste of tuna is great for carrying add-ins, too. Grated carrots, sesame seeds, cilantro, lime juice, Sriracha, onion—most ingredients only enhance the flavor of the fish.

Yet there’s one tuna fish ingredient that reigns over all—and it’s probably one you’ve never thought of. After this video, your taste buds will never be the same.

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The sweet heat of pickled jalapeno juice gives tuna fish salad a bite and a burn. Plus, combined with mayo, the juice helps make the mixture creamier without having to pile in more calories.

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